‘Noisy Can Kids’ raise ruckus to end malaria

Double the money being raised for an anti-malaria campaign over the next year, and I’ll let you throw a pie in my face, Pastor Scott Summers told youth at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church.

The friendly bet was first proposed by Maddie Cahoon, now 10, who helped lead the drive. She and a handful of youngsters soon earned the name “The Noisy Can Kids.” Twice each month they would walk around the sanctuary rattling tin cans, a noise that grew louder each time coins were dropped into their containers.

Maddie was inspired to take on the task by a trip her and her mom, Dawn Cahoon, made to New York City in April of last year.

They stopped by the United Nations and saw a big display on the organization’s drive to eliminate malaria by 2015.

The UN is partnering with Lutheran churches in the battle against malaria, Dawn Cahoon said.

One part of the international anti-malarial campaign is providing insecticide-treated mosquito nets throughout Africa. They cost about $10 each.